My Ex-boyfriend Is My Stepmother

One I never imagined that I would reunite with my ex-boyfriend under such circumstances.

Today was a grand occasion-my father, Kody Fairbank, the chairman of Fairbank Group, was getting married. The bride was a woman he had met while vacationing on the West Coast. Every spring, without fail, he would embark on a month-long seaside retreat, indulging in fleeting romances before returning home, unattached and unaffected. A seasoned playboy, he had always kept his heart well-guarded.

No one had expected that at fifty, the ever-pragmatic Kody would finally meet his match. Not only had he fallen for her, but he had also ignored the vehement objections of his advisors and insisted on making her his wife.

Who was this mysterious bride, Coco, and what kind of magic did she possess? Everyone at the wedding was dying to find out.

Kody had kept her well-shielded from the public eye. Until this moment, no one had seen her face, and all we knew about her was mere speculation.

The lights in the banquet hall gradually dimmed, leaving only a single warm white spotlight by the ceremony stage. The emcee's voice rang out with enthusiasm, "Now, let's welcome tonight's most dazzling star-Coco!"

As applause thundered through the room, the bride stepped into the light, her mermaid gown accentuating her stunning silhouette. The moment she stood still, a collective hush fell over the crowd. For several heartbeats, no one dared to breathe-she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her radiance was almost piercing, an allure so intense it was almost painful to behold.

She was tall, with perfect curves that the gown only served to enhance.

Her hair, styled simply in a loose updo, only accentuated her exquisite features.

Her eyes, bright and enchanting, held a depth that was both mesmerizing and unfathomable.

And then there was that tiny beauty mark at the corner of her eye, adding an irresistible charm.

The brief silence shattered into a wave of gasps and applause. Suddenly, everyone could understand why Kody had broken his own rules-who could resist her?

More so, rumor had it that she had once saved Kody's life during an assassination attempt. If she had already risked everything for him, granting her a title seemed like the least he could do.

But as Coco stood there, glowing in the spotlight, my entire world tilted. I was frozen-not just by her beauty but by the undeniable truth staring back at me. I knew her. She was my ex-boyfriend, Jeffry Marsh.

For three years, we had been inseparable. I knew every inch of his body better than my own, his height, his features, even the tiny mole at the corner of his eye. No matter what, I'd recognize him anywhere.

How? How had this happened? In just two years, how had he become a woman, and my father's bride?

The rest of the wedding was a blur. I drifted through the celebrations like a ghost, unable to process anything. The vows, the toasts, the laughter, all played out like a silent film before me. Until Hanley Fairbank's impatient voice snapped me back to reality. "Your stepmother is here to toast, and you're just sitting there?"

I scrambled to my feet, just as Coco gracefully approached.

Kody was still stuck at another table, being plied with drinks by envious friends.

Coco's gaze only reinforced my judgment. Mockery, amusement, and anguish, all tangled in a hatred as dense as a black hole. There was no doubt about it. She was Jeffry.

"Kaia, it's nice to see you," she said, raising her glass. Although her voice was as melodious as a songbird's and completely unfamiliar, the way she said "Kaia" struck me like a bolt of lightning, pulling me straight back to the tenderness with which Jeffry used to call my name. Tears welled up instantly. Panicked, I grabbed my glass and downed my drink in one gulp, barely managing to keep my composure.

Coco swirled her empty glass before leaning in, her crimson lips close to my ear. "Are you ready? From today on, I'll be taking very good care of you." The last few words were bitten out through clenched teeth.

I stared at her, speechless. Had I... Had I been the reason for... this? My god!

The cheerful, sunny boy I once knew was gone. And in his place stood this stunning, vengeful woman. How much had he suffered to become this?

My hands trembled. My face turned pale.

Coco seemed pleased with my reaction. She poured herself another drink before turning to Hanley, her expression effortlessly poised. "Hanley, it's a pleasure to meet you."

The crisp clink of glasses followed as she downed her drink in one go. Hanley merely chuckled. "Mrs. Fairbank, be careful. That title is cursed. None of the previous Mrs. Fairbanks met a good end. My mother, Kaia's mother... isn't that right, Kaia?"

Hanley looked at me with a smirk, but his eyes were ice. I recalled the scene of my mother, Kaylee, trapped in her car, engulfed in flames. Like a puppet on strings, I nodded mechanically.

Coco only smiled wider. "Thank you for the warning, Hanley. Now I'm even more excited about married life."

At that moment, Kody, flushed with alcohol and praise, finally broke free from his friends and made his way over. He caught the tail end of Coco's words and chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "What's this? Already getting along so well with the kids?"

Coco leaned into him with a sweet smile. "Of course. Your family is my family now. We're having a wonderful time."

"That's good." Kody didn't even glance at Hanley. Instead, his gaze landed directly on me, amusement glinting in his eyes.

I shivered violently.

Two

Coco had been part of the Fairbank family for a while now, and Kody's infatuation with her showed no signs of fading. He took her to work with him during the day, and they attended high-profile social events at night. Occasionally, they'd even fly abroad to pick up limited-edition luxury goods. They hardly spent any time at the Fairbank mansion, leaving me with no opportunity to cross paths with her.

These days were becoming harder to bear. I felt like a helpless animal, waiting for the inevitable strike, trapped in a situation I couldn't escape.

That morning, as I walked through the garden on my way to piano lessons, a mandatory course for a lady of high society arranged by Kody, I heard a voice suddenly call out behind me, "Kaia!"

I froze and turned around mechanically. Coco was standing near the rose bushes, wearing a mist-blue silk robe and matching satin slippers. Her long, seaweed-like hair fell over her shoulders, and her expression was a blend of amusement and seductive charm. My heart sank, and I managed to force a smile. "Good morning..."

Coco chuckled. "There's no one else here, no need to put on an act."

I stood there, speechless, and lowered my head deeply.

Coco's demeanor hardened. "After all these years, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Scenes of sweet memories with Jeffry flashed through my mind, and my voice caught in my throat. "Jeffry... how did you end up like this...?"

Coco's eyes widened in disbelief. "How did I end up like this? Don't you know? After all those years, you sent a breakup text and disappeared. Did you ever think about my feelings?"

"Back then... I really had my reasons..."

Coco let out a cold laugh. "Your 'reasons' were that you wanted to get back into the wealthy family, afraid your broke boyfriend would cling to you, right?"

I shook my head desperately. "I'm sorry, Jeffry... it's not what you think..."